Liquid filling machine with traveling measure



April l2, 1949. R. E. J. NoRDQUls-r LIQUID FILLING MACHINE WIIH TRAVELING MEASURE original Filed sept.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

y A TTOE/VEYS April l2, 1949. R. E. J. NoRDQUls- 2,466,731

LIQUID FILLING MACHINE WITH TRAVELING MEASURE original Filed sept. 7, 1940 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eig 4 P4 JNVENTR.

BYDQXQ y ,4 T Toe/VEYLS Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES 2,466,731 ICE LIQUID FELLING MACHINE WITH TRAVELING MEASURE Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., as-

signor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application September 7, 1940, Serial No.

355,845. Divided and this application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,240v

(Cl. 22S- 102) 11 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a machine for iilling liquids, such as milk and the like, into lbre containers and has particular reference to devices for accommodating the lling head or heads of such a machine to fill into containers of dierent dimensions, or for filling different volumes of the same liquid, or different liquids having different viscosities into containers of a given dimesion or holding capacity. This is a division of my parent United States patent application Serial Number 355,845, led September 7, 1940, on Liquid filling machine, issued August 6, 1946, as Patent No. 2,405,232.

In recent years milk and milk products covering a wide range of varieties, such as ordinary milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, cream, heavy cream, etc., have been packaged in iibre containers. In order to meet the demands of the trade these products are packed in diierent sizes of containers which include half-pint, pint, quart and the like containers.

Nearly all dairies handle this wide variety of milk products and containers. The filling of the containers is usually done by machinery so that accurate measurement and speed in lling may be obtained.

However, such a wide range of milk products and container sizes makes necessary considerable machinery which only the larger dairies can afford to use. In the smaller dairies considerable of the individual machines for the individual sizes of containers would be idle most of the time, if such multitudinous machines were installed, because of the relatively small quantities of the individual products packed. Hence the smaller dairies must sometimes forego the use of filling machinery and are to that extent at a disadvantage in competing with the larger dairies.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this diiiiculty by providing, in a filling machine, devices which make it easy to rapidly change over from one kind of milk to another and from one size of container to another so that the entire range of milk products and containers may be used in the same machine, thereby giving the smaller dairies in one machine the benefit of the more expensive varied machinery used by large dairies.

An object of the invention is the provision in a liquid filling machine of devices wherein control may be had over the measuring and filling of liquids in volumes corresponding to the volume of the container to receive the liquid.

Another object is the provision of such devices wherein control may be had over the volume of the liquid measured in respect to its viscosity so that different kinds of liquids may be accurately measured and lled into the containers.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better under- 'stood from the foiiowing description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a part elevation and part vertical sectional view of the filling head portion of a machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a radial vertical section of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, certain movable parts of the machine being illustrated in a different position to accommodate a larger size container, with parts broken away; f

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a dial shown .at

the upper right oi Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate the filling head portion of a machine for filling milk products into square libre containers of the character disclosed` in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6,

1937, to J. M. Hothersall, on Container. Such a container, designated by the letter A in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed with a filling and dispensing opening B located in the top of the container.-

When the container is lled the opening B is closed and sealed with a plug closure element C which is hingedly connected to the container top adjacent the opening. ,f

Upon entering the machine the containers A are in upright position, with their filling openings B uncovered or open and with the closure elements C standing upright adjacent the openings. The 'containers enter in a continuous procession and are individually separated from the processional line and are advanced through the machine in timed order. During this advancement each container is filled, its closure element C is pressed down into the iilling opening B to close and seal it, and the container is then discharged from the machine to any suitable place of deposit.

At the iilling station of the machine a container A to be lled is received on a vertically movable lifter pad I I (Figs. 1 and 2). There are a plurality of these lifter pads arranged in a circle and disposed in openings I2 formed in a rotatable disc I3 secured to a hub I4 slidably mounted on' the lower portion of a stepped or-shouldered rotatable sleeve I5. The hub is keyed onto the sleeve so that it will rotate with it and is slidable on the sleeve to adjust the lifter pad for diierent heights of containers.

The upper portion of the sleeve I5 is mounted on and-is keyed to a vertical drive shaft I6 which may be rotated in any suitable manner. shaft journalled in a yvertical bearing I-'Icon` The.

stituting a column which may be a part of the main frame of the machine and which is disposed inside the lower portion of the sleeve. A ball bearing I8 mounted on the drive shaft and interposed between the top of the bearing .Il and a shoulder seat I in the upper portion of the'sleeve, carries the weight of the sleeve and hub parts rotated by the shaft. .A

Conveyors 22, 23, which may be of theendless' chain type, having prongs or container propelling dogs 24, operate over sprockets y25, 2S mounted on the sleeve I 5 and the hub I4 and thus rotate with these parts for placing the containers onto the lifter pads and for remoying them from the pads. With this arrangement of conveyors they may be relatively shifted oradjusted vertically infrespect tonne another asshowri inFigs. `1 and 2 to'accommdate containers oi different heights. For this purpose the lower chain conveyor 23 with its' sprocket 26 and hub I4 is vertically slidably adinstable on sleeve I5, relative to the upper convey'or 22 which is fixed oh the sleeve, in a manner clearly disclosed in my aforesaid identified parent issued patent.

:Each lifter Vpad LIr is formed on the upper end ofa irticalstemZB carried ina bearing lug 29 formdon the hub I4. The lower ends of the stems 28 lride on a ring cam 3I secured to a table portion 32 of the main frame.

. The lifter pad hub. I4 and the parts connected therewith are rotated intermittentently and during their rotation, the stems 28 of the lifter pads II vtraverse the cam 3l and thus raise the lifter pads and the containers thereon into lling position (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) Filling of the milk contents into the raised container A while Vit is on its lifter pad I I is preferablycarried out by way of a filling head 4I which isdisposed above'the container. YThis lling head is of the character disclosed in United States Patentv 2,144,628, issued to John M. Hothersall, on Fillirigmachine. There are a plurality of these filling heads, one for each lifter pad Hand they extend down from the bottom of a milk reservoir 42 which is secured to the top of )and whichrotates intermittently with the vertical sleeve I5 on the drive shaftn I5.

Eachfilling head 4I includes a tubular member 45 ,('FigL 2) which is secured in an opening 46 in the bottom'of the tank 42. The lower end 'of the member is closed by aiunnel shaped cap 4T having a vertical rim 48 which extends up inside the member. The ,capis formed with a depending cylindrical nozzle.49 which extends into the dispensing opening B in the Vcontainer A when it is liftedinto lliiig. position iby its lifter pad Il, as hereinbefore explained..

- v'Delivery of the milk from the nozzle 4S is controlledby a valve mechanism which includes la valve plunger 5I normally disposed within the nozzle; as sl'iownv iniFig. 2. .The valvev lplurtger is frii'med' on a vertical `valvesteInLSZ which extends upjabove ,the top `of thentank. ,The upper end of tliejstem is fastened', 'by way'of a universal `joint 5.3;to anarm''ll (Fig. I) formed on the .upper end of. a1.vertical actuating rod 55 whichl is located outsideth'e tank. This actuating rodv is carried in'suit'able bearings which are formed in' the outsii'ezoflthe tankj42. Y

, Thelower, endof. the actuating rod 55 carries ,a cam roller 56 which operates in a cam groove 5l di 'a stationary ringicam 58 secured to the inside of a shield' 58, which. extends around the filling mechanism The "shield is'preferably supported on :suitable brackets secured to the "machine frame. Thus as the filling headtravels around the column II the cam roller traverses the cam groove 51 and this raises and lowers the valve stem 52 and the attached valve plunger 5I of each head in time with the other moving part-s of the machine.

Before the nozzlevalve is opened, a predetermined charge of milk in the tank 42 is measured out by a cylindrical measuring element 6l which is located in the lling head 4I.l The measuring element surrounds the valve stem 52 and extends down into the tubular member 45. The element is preferably straight and is open at both ends. The lower end of the element ts snugly within the rim 43 of the head cap 41. t

The upper end of the measuring element 6I is secured in a movable bracket E4 which is provided with a screw cap 55. The bracket is mounted on a vertical rod 66 located outside the tank 42. The rod is Icarried in a pair of spaced bearing lugs 67, 68 formed on the outside of the tank. Between the bearings a collar 1I is threaded on the rod 66 and this collar carries a cam roller 'I2 which operates on a ring cam 'I4 secured to the inside of the shield 5S.

Thus as the lling head 4l rotates around the column Il inside the shield 59, the cam roller 'I2 traverses the cam track of the cam 14, During its rotation around the column and prior to the opening of the valve 5I, the cam 'I4 raises the measuring element 6I within the head so that the lower end of the element is above the rim 48 of the head cap 41, This action permits the milk in the tank 42 to enter into 'the measuring element and fill it to the level of the milk in the tank. The measuring element then moves down into its original position with its lower end inside the rim 48 and this isolates the milk within the measuring element from the milk within the tank.

The specific volume in liquid measure confined within the measuring element 6I is :controlled by a measuring member or block 'I'I which ts snugly within the upper portion of the measuring element. This block surrounds a vertical tube 18 formed integrally with the cap 65 and extends down into the measuring element below the level of the milk in the tank 42. The tube is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed slots 79 which are located a predetermined distance above the milk level in the tank.

'Hence when the measuring element 6I is in an upper openposition to permit the milk to ilow into its open lower end from the filling head 4l,A the milk level rises up into contact with the bottom oi the measuring block 'Il and also rises in Hthe tube' to the level of the milk in the tank. Y i?ifiien the measuring element is thereafter moved downwardly relative to the filling head di. into its closedmposition illustrated in Eigmz, theblock. l? ,compresses the milk in the measuring element and thus forces the milk further up into the tube i8 above the milk level in the" tank, thereby causing some of the milk to overlow 4out ofthe tube slots 19. This milk iiows out of openings SI in the block and thence through slotsvv82 in the measuring element 6l and is thus returned to the tank. This distance the measuring element 6i moves vertically to open and closed positions in the lling head 4I relative to the vertically adjusted block il therein, is not sufficient to shut off communication for the described purpose between the adjacent tube slots l, block openings 1841:, "and measuringlement slots 82, aswillV be evident from Figs "l and 2 wherein the measuring element is illustrated in its lowermost closed position in filling head 4| and its inner cap ring 48. When the measuring element comes to rest in its lowermost position the quantity of milk confined within the -measuring element up to the level in the tube 18,

this being at the liquid level at the bottom edge of the slots 19, is a predetermined measured quantity which is the exact amount to be filled into a predetermined size container A when the valve 5| in the nozzle 49 is opened.

Fig. 2 of the drawing shows the measuring block 11 in position for measuring one quart liquid measure for the quart size container A shown on the lifter pad For other sizes of containers such as the pint or the half-pint, (the latter shown in Fig. 1) the measuring block is adapted to be manually shifted down into the measuring element to its proper position for conning the desired quantities of milk within the measuring element.

For such a purpose the measuring block 11 is carried on a vertical rod 84 which extends up through one side of the block and up through a support tube 85 secured in the cap 65 in an off- This setting insures that the exact liquid measure of the liquid is filled into the container.

The exact setting is made possible by a plurality of adjustable stop elements or setscrews 92 (Fig. 4) which are threaded in radial position in a rotatable dial wheel 93 carried on a pivot stud or trunni-on 94 formed on the bracket lug 61 of the tank 42. The wheel is frictionally under pressure of a compression spring 95 disposed within a recess 96 formed in the wheel. The

' spring is held in place by a large headed screw 91 center position. The rod extends above the support tube and is secured to a sleeve 86 which surrounds the tube. Near its bottom end the sleeve is formed with a pair of slots 81 which are adapted to accommodate a removable spring hair pin 88. This hair pin extends thro-ugh the slots and engages into notches 89 formed in the outer surface of the tube 85.

There are three notches 89, an upper notch for the quart size container, an intermediate notch for the pint size container and a lower notch for the half-pint size container. Thus by removing the hair pin and sliding the sleeve 8 up or down on the tube 85 to bring the sleeve slots 81 into line with the proper notch 89 and by reinserting the pin, the block 11 may be positioned in the proper place to accommodate a desired container as to the required volume of fill.

When the measuring block 11 is adjusted for either the pint size container or for the halfpint size as will be seen from the position of the notches 89 in Fig. 2, the top of the block will be below the tube slots 19. Hence when the measuring takes place for a pint size container, milk or other liquid discharging from these slots will flow down over the top of the block and fall into the milk in the tank 42. In the case of the halfpint size container the top of the block will be below the level of the milk in the tank. Hence while being measured for this size container milk discharging from the slots 19 will fall directly into the milk in the tank. In both of these cases the openings 8| in the measuring block will be in a closed off position below the slots 82 in the measuring element 6| and therefore will not be used. These openings 8| are not necessary for the pint and half-pint sizes of containers since discharged milk flows out over the top of the block.

Since the machine is adapted for use also with diierent kinds of milk or liquids `of varying viscosity, provision is made for a fine adjustment of the measuring element to insure accuracy of fill. Liquids such as cream, chocolate milk, buttermilk and heavy cream are of heavier consistency than ordinary milk and hence a slightly greater quantity adheres to the measuring elements when the liquid is drained from them and it is for this purpose that the measuring element is set slightly different for each kind ofv milk.

which is threaded in the outer end of the pivot stud. The wheel is removably locked against movement by a pin 98 which is secured in the bearing lug B1 and which extends into a hole or aperture 99 formed in the dial wheel. There are a plurality of these holes, one adjacent each setscrew 92.

Hence by pulling the dial wheel outwardly against the pressure of its spring 95 the pin 98 may be disengaged from its hole 99 and the wheel thereupon may be rotated to any desired setting and reset in locked position (that is, with the pin 98 in the desired hole 99) for operation under the control of the proper setscrew. A collar or handle element |00 is formed on the dial wheel for pulling the wheel out and for rotating it on its trunnio-n. Thus when the measuring element 9| moves down into measuring position a pin |9| in a lug |02 formed .on the measuring element bracket 64, engages the positioned setscrew 92 and thereby stops the measuring element in the proper vertical position for the exact desired liquid `measure dependent upon the vis- ;g cosity of the liquid, into a given size container.

There is one of these setscrews 92 for each kind of milk above mentioned and one for each size of container. In order to identify the screws a dial |05 is formed on the wheel 93 and this dial is marked and divided into three sections according to size of container, namely, a quart section |86, a pint section |01, and a half-pint section |98. Each section is sub-divided under the marked headings, Milk, Cream, Choco for chocolate milk, Bu. for buttermilk, and H cream for heavy cream and there is a setscrew 92 adjacent each of these headings. Each screw for each grade of milk and container is prefer-ably initially set by trial and experiment and afterwards is locked against movement by a setscrew |99,

each of which is threaded into the wheel at an angle to its respective adjustable screw 92.

After a container A has been lled with its contents the lifter pa-d on which it is supported is lowered to the level of the lifter pad disc I3 as hereinbefore mentioned and is ready for sealing and discharge from the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing al1 of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A machine for lling liquids of different viscosities into containers, the combination of a lling head for holding a lling fluid, a liquid measuring element located in said filling head and movable into and out of sealing engagement therewith, means for moving said measuring element out of sealing engagement with said head to receive an amount of liquid therefrom, said moving means thereafter moving said vel towards and mit sesiiri'g erigagementwithsaid head to segregate andccn'ne said received liquid gvithin said element while returning excess liquid to said head, and a plurality 'ci stpelements carri'ed by said head and movable into ythe `path of travel of said measuring element, said stop elements being adopted to be setinaccbrdancewith the viscosity of a particular liquid to accurately limit the travel of the measuring element Ytoward the lilling head so that an accuratelymeasured charge based on the viscosity of the liquid being lledwill be confined in the measuring element preparatory to filling said 'charge into a oontainer.

ll2. In a machine forlilling liquids of dilerent viscosities into containers, the combination of aiilling head for holding a iilling liquid, a liquid measuring element located in said lling head and movable therein to segregate and corinne a lpredetermined amount of the liquid, means for moving said measuring element relative to said head, a rotatable dial adjacent said measuring element, said dial being divided into segments Arepresenting diierent sizes of containers and 'each segment being subdivided into a plurality of zones designating kinds ofliquid to be illled into the containers, a stop element carried by said head and disposed adjacent each subdivision ,on the dial, said dialmbeing adapted tqbe rotated into positionadjacent the measuring element for a correSpondingkind of liquid in said filling head to accurately limit themovementof said measuring element and `thereby confine therewithin a predetermined charge of liquidV as determined by its viscosity preparatory to nlling said charge into a container, i,

, 3. In a machine for filling liquids of dilerent viscosities into containers, the combination of a fil1ing head for holding a filling fluid, a liquid measuring element locatedin said lling head ,an-d movable intoy and out of sealing engagement therewith, means for moving said measuring ele,- mentout of sealing engagementwith saidhead to Vreceive an amount ci liquid therefrom in exycess of a predetermined'nlling charge, said movin g means thereafter moving said element tof- Wards and into sealing engagement with said head to segregate and conne said received liquid within said element while returning excess I liquid to said head, a plurality of s top elements carriedby said head and `movable intothe path of travel of said measuring element, said stop elements beingr adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance With the viscosity of apar.; ticular liquid t accurately vlimit thetrav'el o f the measuring element toward the filling head so that an accurately measured charge based on the viscosity of the liquid being illed will be vcon;-4 ined relative to the head preparatory to filling Y s'aiobcharge into a contain`ei', 'and vmeans 'fr rbringing a container into fillingQposition to receive said measured chargejof liquid.

, 4. In a machine for lining liquids of different viscositiesinto containers of different sizes, the combination of a filling head for holding [altilling liquid, a liquid measuring element located in said filling head and movable therein tofsegfgregate and connue a predetermined amount o f the liquid received therefrom, means Qcarriedby said element and movable relative, thereto for `varying the volume of liquid received thereinin ,accordance with the si.ze,. o fv c'ontainer'to be filled, ineens fonmoying .saidirieasnfring elmenarela ai@ ai said has, s isaiasi-saaiassainissiii jacnt said rrrea'suring element` said dial being divi-ded Linto segments representing different sizes f containers and each segment being subdivided into zones designating kinds of liquid to b e lled into ythe containers, a stop element disposed adjacent'each subdivision on the dial, said dial be# ing adapted to be rotated into position adjacent the measuring element for a corresponding kind of liquid in said filling head to accurately limit the movement of Ysaid measuring element and thereby confine within it a predetermined charge of vliquldfin respect to its viscosity preparatory to filling said charge into a container, and means below said filling head for receiving and supporting a container to be filled, said means being vertically movable into different predetermined fixed positions to accommodate the different sizes of containers specified on said dial. :5. In a machinef'c'r filling liquids of different viscosities into containers, the combination of a filling head forholding a lling liquid, a liquid measuring element located in said iillinghead and moveable therein to segregate and conne ya predetermined amount of the liquid, means for moving said measuring element relative to said head, a rotatable dial disposed adjacent said measuring element, a plurality ofstop elements on said dial for variable selling in'accordance with the viscosity of a particular liquid being filled to accurately limit thejtravel of the measuring ele-y ment toward the iilling head so that an accurately measured charge based on the viscosityof the liquid will be vconfined inthe head preparatory to filling said charger into a container, a trunnion disposed adjacent said measuring element for supporting said dial, a yieldable-connection bef tween said dial and said trunnion for holding said viscosities into containers, the combination of la filling head for holding a iilling liquid, a liquid measuring element located in said filling head and movable therein to segregate and confine a predetermined amount of liquid, means for moving said measuring element relative to said head, a rotatable dial mounted adja-cent said measuring element, a plurality of stop elements on Said dial Afor variable Setting in accordance With the vis,- cosity of a particular liquid to accurately limit the travel of the measuring element toward the iilling head so that an accuratelyy measured ycharge based on the viscosity of the liquid being ,filled will be connedin said element by the head preparatory to lling said charge into a container, .atrunnion disposed adjacent said measuring elejment ,fon supporting ,said dial, a, compression `spring between said dial and said ,trunnionor holding said dial in operative position, a c ollar Aonsaid dial for sliding said dial on its trunnion to `Shift said stop elements out of and into the path of travel of said measuring element and for rotatf ing said dial when in an out position to bringe dierent stop element into alignment with said measuring element, and means for lockingsaid dial. against movement when in an adjusted position.

. In a machine fornlling liquids y of different vvis cosities into containers, the combination o f a Vmaisuring ismht'io'cated in said suing head ani.

movable therein to segregate and confine a predetermined amount of the liquid, means for moving said measuring element relative to said head, a rotatable dial disposed adjacent said measuring element, said dial having a plurality oi locking holes formed in an inner surface thereof in spaced relation around said dial, a stationary pin adjacent said measuring element and insertable into said holes selectively for locking said dial in a predetermined position, a plurality of stop elements on said dial and arranged one adjacent each locking hole and set in accordance with the viscosity of a particular liquid to accurately limit the travel of the measuring element toward the filling head so that an accurately measured charge based on the viscosity of the liquid being i-llled will be coniined in the head preparatory to filling said charge into a container, a trunnion disposed adjacent said measuring element for supporting said dial, a compression spring between said dial and said trunnion for holding said dial in operative position, a collar on said dial for sliding said dial on its trunnion to shift said stop elements out of and into the path of travel of said measuring element and for rotating said dial when in an out position to bring a different stop element into alignment with said measuring element, and means for locking said dial in an adjusted position against turning.

8. In a machine for lling liquids of different viscosities into containers, the combination of a filling head for holding a lling liquid, a liquid measuring element located in said filling head and movable therein to segregate and confine a predetermined .amount of the liquid, means for moving said measuring element relative to said head,

a rotatable dial carried by said head adjacent said measuring element, said dial being divided into segments representing different sizes of containers with each segment subdivided into zones designating kinds of liquid to be iilled into the containers, a plurality of setscrew stop elements carried by said dial adjacent each subdivision thereof for variable setting in accordance with the viscosity of a particular liquid indicated on said dial and adapted to be rotated therewith into position adjacent the measuring element for the corresponding kind of liquid contained in said lling head to accurately limit the movement of said measuring element and thereby confine within it a predetermined charge of liquid in respect to its viscosity preparatory to filling said charge into a container, and means carried by said dial for locking said stop elements in their set position against turning out of adjustment.

9. In a machine for filling liquids of different viscosities into containers of different sizes, the combination of a filling head for holding a lling uid, a liquid measuring element located in said lling head and movable into and out of sealing engagement therewith, means for moving said measuring element away from and out of sealing engagement with said head to receive an .amount of liquid therefrom in excess of a predetermined lling cha-rge and then for moving said element towards and into sealing engagement with said head to segregate and conne said received liquid within said element while returning excess liquid to said head, a measuring block disposed within said measuring element for limiting the volume of liquid conned within said measuring element to the specific volume in liquid measure of the container to be lled, and a plurality of stop elements supported by said head and movable into the path of travel of said measuring element, said stop elements being adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with the viscosity of a particular liquid to accurately limit the travel of the measuring element toward the iilling head so that an accurately measured charge based on the viscosity of the liquid and the volume in liquid measure being lled will be confined by the head preparatory to filling said charge into a container.

10. A machine for lling liquids into containers of different sizes, comprising a rotatable tank havinga communicating filling head for holding the liquid, a tubular measuring element movably mounted in said lling head for segregating and confining a predetermined amount of the liquid received therefrom, means for moving said measuring element -relative to said head to receive liquid therefrom, a measuring member carried by said measuring element and movable relative thereto for changing the capacity of said element to vary the volume of liquid received therein in accordance with the size of container to be lled, and cooperating liquid communicating means in said measuring element and member respectively for returning an excess of measured liquid to said tank when said measuring element is moved towards said filling head to confine and segregate a measured amount of liquid in the measuring element.

ll. A machine for filling liquids into containers of diiferent sizes, comprising a rotatable tank having a communicating lling head for holding the liquid, a measuring cylinder movably mounted in said filling head for s'egregating and confining a predetermined amount of the liquid received therefrom, means for moving said measuring cylinder in opposite directions relative to said head to receive and confine the tank liquid, a measuring block slidably mounted y in vsaid measuring cylinder for changing the -capacity of the cylinder to vary the volume of liquid received therein in accordance with the size of container to be filled, and communicating ports in said measuring cylinder and block respectively for returning sur plus liquid from said cylinder to said tank when the cylinder is moved towards said head to conne a measured volume of tank liquid therein.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,778 Baker Aug. 27, 1912 1,633,046 Thomson June 21, 1927 2,029,299 Anderson Feb. 4, 1936 2,103,158 Kantor Dec. 21, 1937 2,136,901 Ferguson Nov. 15, 1938 2,144,628 I-Iothersall Jan. 24, 1939 2,174,420 Kantor ---.i Sept. 26, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,759 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1894 

